How does a laptop automatically charge a phone/ipad? If I connect the two, why doesn’t the phone charge the laptop instead?

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I have an iPhone, iPad, and a Mac and when I connect my phone or iPad to the Mac, it automatically starts charging. But why? Why not the other way around?

My thinking is that Mac’s have a bigger battery? But still what about that makes the Mac a charging source in the presence of an iPhone/ iPad?

In: Technology

5 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

The USB ports on the computer are by default always putting out 5v. When plugged in the phone will see that 5v and put itself into charging mode while telling the computer “hey I’m a high power device give me as much juice as you can”.

Many phones also support putting power out on their USB (especially Android phones support one phone charging another over USB-C), but it’s something the phone has to do itself.

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